The Policy Committee convened on Monday, 27 September 2010, at 5:00 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Office located in the Holman Center for Career and Technical Education of Pekin Community High School, City of Pekin, County of Tazewell.

Chairperson Karen Hohimer called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. Also in attendance were Board Members Carl Johnson and Paul O’Neal; Superintendent Paula Davis; Assistant Superintendent Tim Ruwe; Business Manager Carla Schaefer; and Recording Secretary Rick White.

COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC COMMENTS, & PARTICIPATION

None.

PARTICIPATION OF GIRLS IN BOYS’ SPORTS

Superintendent Davis pointed out that Board policy is currently silent on the issue of girls’ participation in boys’ sports. We have a female student who has been participating in open gym for wrestling. In the absence of Board policy, federal law (Title IX) allows for this. It is unclear at this time whether or not she will try out for wrestling.

Members discussed the issue, including potential supervisory costs to the District, the possible impact on team morale, and the difficulties which may arise due to the probability of charges against her male wrestling opponents for what she perceives as inappropriate behavior.

Mrs. Davis explained that Title IX guarantees female students equal access in athletics. Pekin High has as many opportunities for girls to participate in sports as it has for boys. Therefore, it may not be inappropriate to adopt a policy confining girls to girls’ sports and the same for boys. District legal counsel has yet to be consulted on this issue and she informed members she brought the issue to their attention at this meeting only to determine the need for further investigation. Board members expressed an interest in doing something regarding policy, even if this particular girl does not stay the course and try out for the wrestling team this year. Other districts have had to face this issue, said Assistant Superintendent Ruwe. Mrs. Davis may bring something for consideration at the next Policy committee meeting.

PRESS [Issue 73, August 2010]

Policy 2:20 – School Board: Powers and Duties of the School Board

Minutes – PCHS Board of Education
Policy Committee Meeting
27 September 2010
Page Two

This policy is amended to comply with legal changes that relieve Board members from the duty to visit District schools.

It was decided to bring this policy to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 2:80 – School Board: Board Member Oath and Conduct

Current District Board policy differs significantly from that contained in PRESS.

It was decided to retain the current District policy and not bring it to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 2:100 – School Board: Board Member Conflict of Interest

PRESS recommends that specific laws cited in the body of current Board policy be replaced by the more general reference to State law.

It was decided to bring this policy to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 2:110 – School Board: Qualifications, Term, and Duties of Board Officers

The date by which the Board Secretary must submit the official acts of the Board to the Treasurer has been changed.

It was decided to bring this policy to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 3:40 – General School Administration: Superintendent

This policy has been non-substantively updated with recodification references added to citations in footnotes and legal references. Mrs. Davis noted that those who evaluate staff must attend the Administrators’ Academy regularly to renew their administrative certificates.

It was decided to retain the current District policy and not bring it to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 4:50 – Operations: Payment Procedures

Minutes – PCHS Board of Education
Policy Committee Meeting
27 September 2010
Page Three

Updates to this policy and its footnotes are minor and are due to legal changes.

It was decided to bring this policy to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 4:110 – Operational Services: Transportation

PRESS alterations to this policy are confined to footnotes only in compliance with legal changes. The District contracts busing services out, so this policy does not apply to us.

It was decided to retain the current District policy and not bring it to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 4:160 – Operational Services: Environmental Quality of Buildings and Grounds

Alterations to this policy are due to legal citation changes in footnotes and legal references only.

It was decided to retain the current District policy and not bring it to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 5:100 – General Personnel: Staff Development Program

PRESS changes to this policy are minor and involve updated footnotes only due to recodification and other reasons. Mrs. Davis stated there is no reason to add verbiage regarding in-services suggested in Footnote 4.

It was decided to retain the current District policy and not bring it to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 5:190 – Professional Personnel: Teacher Qualifications

The deadline for teachers to provide the District office with a complete transcript of credits earned in institutions of higher education has been moved from 01 July to 01 September unless an applicable collective bargaining agreement provides otherwise, which ours does not, noted Mrs. Davis. She added that online courses sometimes pose an issue since universities are not quick to respond with official transcripts.

It was decided to bring this policy to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Minutes – PCHS Board of Education
Policy Committee Meeting
27 September 2010
Page Four

Policy 5:280 – Educational Support Personnel: Duties and Qualifications

PRESS changes to this policy are minor and involve a legal reference change and footnote edits due to recodification.

It was decided to retain the current District policy and not bring it to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 5:290 – Educational Support Personnel: Employment Termination and
Suspensions

This policy has been updated to comply with law, moving the deadline for giving a final paycheck to an employee whose employment was terminated due to a reduction in force from the third business day following the last day of employment to the next regular pay date following the last day of employment. Mrs. Davis clarified District policy for paychecks to RIFed teachers on twelve-month contracts, stating those teachers are paid in regular installments throughout the twelve-month period regardless of their last day of employment.

It was decided to bring this policy to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 6:20 – Instruction: School Year Calendar and Day

PRESS changes to this policy involve updated footnotes only.

It was decided to retain the current District policy and not bring it to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 6:50 – Instruction: School Wellness

PRESS changes to this policy are minor and involve citation edits in footnotes due to recodification.

It was decided to retain the current District policy and not bring it to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 6:60 – Instruction: Curriculum Content

PRESS changes to this policy involve updated footnotes only.

Minutes – PCHS Board of Education
Policy Committee Meeting
27 September 2010
Page Five

It was decided to retain the current District policy and not bring it to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 6:320 – Instruction: High School Credit for Proficiency

PRESS changes to this policy delete the provision which offers proficiency credit for consumer education for students who pass the Annual Consumer Education Proficiency Test.

It was decided to bring this policy to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 7:20 – Students: Harassment of Students Prohibited

PRESS updates bring this policy in compliance with law. Boards are required to adopt a policy on bullying and new verbiage contains a clear directive that no student shall be subjected to bullying on the basis of any one of the listed protected classifications. The protected classifications list was amended to include those added by revisions to the bullying statute, P.A. 96-952.

Some apprehension was expressed over inclusion of the word “perceived” throughout the opening paragraph of the policy, as in the first sentence, “No person . . . shall harass, intimidate, or bully a student on the basis of actual or perceived race; color . . . .” Mrs. Davis said the District makes sure it investigates and carefully documents every charge of harassment which may be why we have done so well when cases go to court.

It was decided to bring this policy to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 7:180 – Students: Preventing Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment

PRESS changes update this policy to comply with the law as amended by P.A. 96-952 which requires boards to adopt a policy on bullying. This policy focuses on behavior prohibited to students, whereas Policy 7:20 pertains to prohibited behavior which targets students. Texting with the intent to harass or intimidate, explained Mrs. Davis, is a real concern. That is why students are not allowed to use their cell phones in school since it is virtually impossible to control what they do and say.

It was decided to bring this policy to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Minutes – PCHS Board of Education
Policy Committee Meeting
27 September 2010
Page Six

Policy 7:190 – Students: Student Discipline

PRESS has added a provision which prohibits what is commonly known as “sexting.” The language is from legislation providing that a minor who distributes or disseminates an indecent visual depiction of another minor through the use of a computer or electronic communication device may be adjudged a minor in need of supervision. Also, new examples of bullying are added later in the policy.

The committee discussed consequences for sexting and difficulties in controlling it.

It was decided to bring this policy to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 7:200 – Students: Suspension Procedures

Language has been changed by PRESS stating that the Board no longer must receive a copy of a student’s suspension notice, but must be provided with a summary of the notice, including the reason for and length of the suspension. Superintendent Davis assured the committee these requirements will be enforced locally.

It was decided to bring this policy to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 7:240 – Students: Conduct Code for Participants in Extracurricular Activities

PRESS changes to this policy are minor and involve a legal reference change and footnote edits due to recodification.

It was decided to retain the current District policy and not bring it to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 7:285 – Food Allergy Management Program [NEW]

This new policy established the goal of reducing food allergy risks and providing accommodations and proper treatment for allergic reactions. To accomplish this, it directs the Superintendent to develop and implement a food allergy management program that implements the goals established in The School Code, follows and references the applicable best practices specific to the District’s needs in the Guidelines, and complies with State and federal law and is in alignment with Board policies.

Minutes – PCHS Board of Education
Policy Committee Meeting
27 September 2010
Page Seven

Mrs. Davis explained procedures currently followed in the District to identify and assist students with allergies. The situation is a bit easier to handle at the high school level since students are more mature and aware of their own allergy issues.

It was decided to bring this new policy to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 7:300 – Students: Extracurricular Athletics

PRESS changes to this policy are minor and involve a legal reference change and footnote edits due to recodification.

It was decided to retain the current District policy and not bring it to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

Policy 8:30 – Community Relations: Visitors to and Conduct on School Property

PRESS changes to this policy are minor and involve a rearrangement of wording in the provision regarding child sex offenders.

It was decided to bring this policy to the Board for a first reading at its next regular meeting.

OTHER

Superintendent Davis reported that nomination forms for the Distinguished Alumni Award, recently established by Board Policy 8:50, are ready for dissemination.

ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to conduct, the Policy Committee meeting was adjourned by Chairperson Hohimer at 5:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Rick White, Recording Secretary